Nerve Palsy Associated with Total Hip Arthroplasty

Nerve palsy associated with total hip arthroplasty is an uncommon, but distressing complication, with an overall prevalence around 1%. An apparent peroneal palsy after a total hip replacement is almost always due to an injury to the peroneal division of the sciatic nerve near the hip. Females, revisions and dysplastic hips are at increased risk. Forty-one percent of sciatic nerve injuries have a complete or essentially complete recovery, 44% have a mild persistent deficit, and 15% have a poor outcome.